Automatic ally-propelled device



. GA S. STUART.

/IuToMAncALL'Y PROPELLED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, l9l9.

1:I20,348.'d I Patented 00T. 28,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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"alf T- :A g wm G. S. STUART.

AUTOMTICALLY PROPELLED DEVICE.'

APmcAnoN FILED FEB. s. 1919.

Patented n' Oct. 28, 1919.

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rlue :miv/mm PLANoan/mu co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.,

G. S. STUART.

AUIMATICALLY PROPELLED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEILS. I9I9.

.1 ,$520,348. Patent@ Oct. 28, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n fnvenfon George Stamm'.

- 'rue coLuMmA PLANMIRAPII "n wAslIINriTIw, I. C.

im@ STATES r1 .arnnfr ermee.

` GEORGE s. jsrnen'r. or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

p Y.AII'IOMATIoALIrr;PROPELLED DEVICE. Y

To all wlw/HL t may concern: l.

. Beit known that I, GEORGES. STUART, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented` certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically-Propelled Devices; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such asfwill enable `others skilled in the .art to which it appertains` to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in automatically propelled devices, wherein the device is intended to be automatically propelled-by means of the mecha;-

.- Fig. Q'is. a front view of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a planview ofk the device shown in Figs. 1 and2.. 1 f

Figwl shows a. section along the line 4 4: ofFjig.y 3, and looking in fthe direction of 'the'arrows Fig. 5, is a `detailview showing4 the drivingwheel-.in section. y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two of the buckets' of the driving wheel shown in Fig. 5,- p`arts being shown on a larger scale. w

,Fign is a similar view to Fig. 1,-'bu-t shows a. modification in iwhich the` contour of the operati-ng chamber is rin the similitude ofabird. y

Fig, 8 is a similar view to Figs. lA and 7,

but ,shoWs. the contourof the operatingA chamber in the similitude-ofafbattleship;. and. i

F'g- 9. isa similar view to Figs. 1,7 and 8,-.but shows the operatingohamber in the.

u similitude of a horse, but with the various detalls'sh'own in theother gures omitted.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. es, Iain.

Application filed February 5, 1919. Serial N o. 275,142.

y The variousdetails of the invention are more fully shown in Figs. l to 6 which will be now described.

There are two operating.chambers A each in sideelevation in the form of a fish as shown, and these chambers areconnected together in any convenient way as by means of the wingsurfaces B and B', which terminate in the upper and lower wings B2 and B3, respectively, projecting laterally from together inany convenient way as by the braces b.

Beneath Athe lower plane are the brackets C and D, in which are journaled the front wheels C and the rear wheel D. The rear wheel D may be swiveled if'desired, as is well .known in the art, but the bracket D is shown as attached to the lower plane B".

`Each mainl chamber A is provided with anair chamber A? therein, which`` is closed at the top as by means of the partitions a0, a2 and a3, there being a passage for air through the main chamber from the front opening a to the rear opening a.

Imayprovide auxiliary side chambers A4 connected with the main chamber by means ofthe passage ah Mounted in the chamber A0 beneath the curved partitions a2 and as, respectively, are the drive wheel E and the auxiliary wheel F, which are rotated in the same direction by means of a belt or sprocket chain' Gr, the driving wheels E being mounted on the shaft H driven by any `suitable source of`v power, such as the engine I. In placeof the engine a suitable coil spring or rubber band may be used, as will be hereinafter described with reference to Figs.` 7 to 9.

The preferred construction of the drive wheel E is shown in'Figs. 5 and 6, in which e are buckets vattached to the spokes ofthe wheel and which are stienedby the braces e. In order-to secure' a' snug fit, these buckets are preferably provided with a strip of .rubber or leather e2 as shown in Fig.` 6. In order to regulate the supply of fluid' drawn in through the front opening a I provide'asuitable' regulating device, such as thebellows attachment J shown in Figs. l and 2, which may be `raised orl lowered by meansof the cord K .passing over the pulley and wound upon the wheel L. By turnthe chambers A, which wings are connected ing this wheel L both of the lower jaws of the mouths of the two fishes may be raised or lowered. thus adjusting the opening for uid through the mouth of the fish. In a similar way the passage of fluid through the passages a4 in the side chambers A4 may -be controlled by means of gate valves M connected by the links m to the crank arms m on the shaft m2, which shaft may be rotated by means of the hand lever N. y

The operating chambers A are shown as provided with fins O, O and O2 which serve to increase the similitude of the apparatus to a fish, and these fins also serve to steer the apparatus in a straight direction.

I have shown as attached to the tails of the two fishes a rudder attachment comprising Vertical or steering rudders P and horizontal rudders I3. These rudders swing about the rudder posts P2 and may be operated simultaneously by means of the crank arms Q, the links g, the double lever Q and the rope or chain g passing over the steer wheel Q2, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 7, the general arrangement is the same as in Figs. 1 to 6, except that I show the side elevation of the operating chambers in the form of a bird, and instead of the bellows attachment J I show a hinged door J otherwise the construction of the parts is substantially the same as in thebefore described figures.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 8, the side elevation of the operating chamber resembles a battleship, and the air passage through the operating chamber is controlled by means of a hinged door J2.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 9, the operating chamber is shown in the similitude of a horse, and any means for regulating the infiuX of air into the operating chamber are omitted.

In the forms of device shown in Figs. 7 Sand 9 instead of the engine I, shown in Figs. l to 3, any suitable means for rotating the drive shaft may be used, such as the spring I indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8, or the rubber band I2 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The operation of the device is as follows Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, suppose the device to be used on land. and suppose the means for rotating the drive shaft I-I to be set in operation, the drive wheel E will force air through the air passage in the lower part of the operating chamber, sucking the air in from the front and ejecting the same at the rear. `The auxiliary wheel F will prevent air from being carried around in the upper,

part of the chamber AO and will tend to cause the air to be ejected directly to the rear; the resultant effect will be that the device will be propelled forward. The speed of the propulsion will be determined by the speed of the drive wheel E, and the size of the air openings a and a4, which openings are controlled by the bellows attachment J and the gate valves M.

If the rudders be turned to the right or left, the device willltend to swerve in the same direction. The ns will tend to keep the device upright, especially if the lower fins O and O2 are ballasted as already described.

If the device is run from land into the water, water will be sucked in through the openings a and a4 and will be ejected rearward, thus causing the device to move rapidly through the water; the drive wheel E in that case serving as an ordinary paddle wheel, and the buoyancy of the air in the upper portion of the chamber AO will serve to keep the device afloat. VMoreover, the inclined planes will tend to lift the device in the water.

In the forms of the device shown in Fig. 7 the apparatus is equally capable of being used on land or in the water.

The simplified modification shown in Fig.

9 is intended primarily for use on land only, buty it may be also operated in the water. In this form, however, no wing attachments are shown. Y With any of the forms of the device, the apparatus is adapted' when started to run over smooth ground or a smooth platform, or to swim inthe water.

It will be obvious that various modilications of the herein described apparatus and various changes in the combination and arrangement of parts might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limit my invention to precise details of construction except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by VLetters Patent of the United States is l. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber provided with apassage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, a drive wheel provided with buckets dipping vdown into said passage, means for rotating said drive wheel, an auxiliary wheel located in rear of said drive wheel and also provided with buckets, and means for `rotating said auxiliary wheel in the same direction as said drive wheel,.substantially as described.

2. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber provided with a passage for Huid extending through the lower portion thereof, a drive wheel provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive wheel, an auxiliary wheel located in rear of said drive wheel and also provided with buckets, means for rotating said auxiliary Wheel in the same direction as said drive Wheel, With means for varying the cross section of' said fluid passage in front of said drive Wheel, substantially as described.

3. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber provided with ra passage for fluid extending through the loiver portion thereof', Wheels supporting said chamber, a drive Wheel provided with buckets dipping -doivn into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear of said drive Wheel and also provided With buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheel in the same direction as said drive. Wheel, substantially as described. 1l. An automobile device of the character described, comprising` an operating chamber provided with a passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, Wheels supporting said chamber, a drive Wheel provided With buckets dipping down into` said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear of said drive Wheel and also provided With buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary wheel in the same direction as said drive Wheel, With means" for varying the cross section of said fluidV passage in front of said drive Wheel, substantially as described.

5. An automobile device of the character described, -comprising a frame mounted on Wheels, a pair of operating chambers each provided with a passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, mountedV on said frame, a drive Wheel Vin each operating chamber provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheels, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear of each of said drive Wheels and also provided vvith buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary wheels in the same direction as said drive Wheels, substantially as described.

6. An automobile device ofl the character described, comprising a frame mounted on Wheels, a pair of operating chambers each provided with a passage for Vfluid extending through the lower portion thereof, mounted on said frame, a .drive Wheel in each operating chamber provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear of said drive Wheel and also provided with buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheels in the same direction as said drive Wheels, with means for varying the cross section of said fluid passage in front of said drive Wheel, substantially as described.

7. An automobile device of the character described, comprising a frame mounted on Wheels, a pair of operating chambers each provided with a passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, mounted on said frame, Wings pro]ectmg laterally Vfrom said chambers, a drive Wheel in each operating chamber provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive avheels, an auxiliary wheel located in rear oil' each of said drive wheels Aand also provided with buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheels in the same direction as said drive wheels, sub stantially as described.

8. An automobile device of the character described, comprising a -frame mounted on Wheels, a pair of operating chambers each provided with a passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, mounted on said frame, Wings projecting laterally1 'from said chambers, a drive wheel in each operating chamber provided With bucketsl dipping dovvn into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheels, an auxiliary wheel located in rear of each of said drive Wheels and also provided with buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary wheels in the saine direction as said drive Wheels, with means for varying the cross section of said fluid passages in front of said drive Wheels, substantially as described.

9. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber Y provided With a passage for fluid extending through the lovver portion thereof, Wheels supporting said chamber, Wings projecting laterally from said chamber and set at an incline, a drive Wheel provided with buckets dipping dovvn into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear ofl said drive Wheel and also provided with buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheel in the same direction as said drive Wheel, substantially as described.

l0. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber provided With a passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof, Wheels supporting said chamber, Wings projecting laterally from said chambe land set at an incline, a drive Wheel provided vvith buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said crive Wheel, an auxiliary Wheel located in rear of said drive Wheel and also provided with buckets. and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheel in the same direction as said drive Wheel, With means forvarying the cross section of said fluid passage in front of said drive ivheel, substantially as described.

1l. An automobile device of the character described, comprising a frame mounted on Wheels, a pair of'operating chambers each provided With a main passage for fluid extending through the lower portion thereof', mounted on said frame, auxiliary chambers each provided'vvth fluid passages connected to said main {iuid passage, a drive Wheel in each operating chamber provided With buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheels, an auxiliary vWheel located in rear of said drive Wheel in each chamber and also provided with buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary wheels in the same direction as said drive wheels, substantially as described.

l2. An automobile device of the character described, comprising a frame mounted on wheels, a pair of operating chambers each provided with a main passage for fluid eX- tending through the lower portion thereof, mounted on said frame, auxiliary chambers each provided with iiuid passages connected to said main fluid passage, a drive Wheel in each operating chamber provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auX- iliary Wheel located in rear of said drive Wheels in each chamber and also provided with buckets, and means for rotating each of said `auxiliary Wheels in the same direction as said drive Wheels, With means for varying the cross section of said fluid passage in front of said drive Wheels, substantially as described.

g3. An automobile device of the character described, comprising an operating chamber provided With an air passage beneath the same, a drive Wheel mounted in said operating chamber and provided with buckets dipping down into said passage, means for rotating said drive Wheel, an auxiliary wheel also mounted in said operating chamber in rear of Said drive Wheel and also provided With buckets, and means for rotating said auxiliary Wheel in the same direction as said drive wheel, substantially yas described.

GEORGE S. STUART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

